My rants about concealed carry holsters. What works, what doesn't and why.

Finding that "perfect" concealed carry holster is almost a never ending quest for individuals who carry concealed. Most people go through a series of holsters in a trial and error process trying to find the perfect combination of comfort and concealment.

In most cases, handgun owners end up with the proverbial "box of holsters" that end up sitting around without being used.

The sheer volume of concealed carry holsters made specifically for women indicates a growing demographic in the firearms industry. Additionally, there are several gender-neutral holster options available for self-defense. This many options can create confusion for the average consumer. Holster options have benefits and drawbacks that may or may not be obvious. Before selecting a concealed-carry holster, it’s important to evaluate your needs and the potential obstacles they might present.
Read the rest here: http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2015/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-7-concealed-carry-holster-types-for-women/ #ccw #concealedcarry #ccwforladies #gunholster

CCW Weekend: Understanding The Recent Rise In Concealed Carry
In light of the recent San Bernardino terrorist attacks, many states are beginning to relax their restrictions on concealed carry weapons (CCWs). Because of this change in policy, in combination with the December tragedy, Americans are purchasing ...

No, not because it’s winter, and it is the season for bigger guns. I changed based on an experiment I did at the range a few weeks ago. I took a handful of guns with me that needed to be checked for various reasons – new mags for some, sight upgrade for another, and a caliber conversion in the last (for a friend).

I ran some rounds through my G19 to test the new Trijicon HD’s I installed, then I tested the new mags I picked up for my Sig P238, M&P Shield and M&P Compact. Lastly I tested a .40 cal to 9mm conversion I did for a friend on their Glock G22.After all the function tests were successful, I decided to shoot the guns at 7, 15, and 50 yards at a ¼ scale steel silhouette target. I decided to use a timer for a par time, but mostly I was listening for hits within the par time. I varied the times from 3 seconds to 9 seconds depending on the distance for each 5 to 10 shot string. I was drawing from appendix position with each pistol since that is how I have been carrying lately.The results were interesting, and maybe I will post them in another entry, but I realized that hitting a ¼ scale target at 50 yards with a pocket size .380 is a challenge. I could do it, but not fast enough for my liking. The Shield made it a little easier, but I still wasn’t completely satisfied with the results. The M&P compact, my G19, and the converted G22 produced much better results for me. I could regularly hit 9 of 10 shots on the steel at 50 yards with those guns. The shorter distances were not a problem with these guns either…or the Shield for that matter.

The great caliber debate took another twist recently when the FBI announced they were migrating back to the 9mm as their official duty caliber in 2016. Their bullet of choice is going to be the 147 grain Speer Gold Dot G2. In addition to migrating back to the 9mm caliber, the FBI is also looking at deploying a new 9mm pistol for agents in 2016, but they are mum on what that may be. Although many surmise that based on the FBI’s strict RFQ/RFP specs for a new handgun, the Sig P320 is a current frontrunner. Based primarily on an FBI shootout in Miami, FL in 1986, the 9mm was deemed as a “ineffective” round and dumped in favor of the significantly more powerful 10mm. However, agents had trouble with accuracy on the hard recoiling 10mm, so it was dropped in favor of the slightly less powerful S&W .40 caliber. The .40 is the currently approved round most agents are issued.
Much of the decision to switch back to the 9mm was predicated on ballistic information that the FBI has been evaluating since 2007. That information was leaked in 2014 in a report from the FBI’s Defensive Systems Unit. Just a heads up if you happen to be searching online for the report, there are 2 things to be aware of:
#1 – The report itself contains somewhat graphic images of various shooting wounds so be aware of you are squeamish.
#2 – Some of the reports at various locations appear to be infected with some form of computer virus as I was unlucky enough to pick one up.Read the rest of the article here: http://blog.gunnersalley.com/the-great-caliber-debate-takes-another-twist/. #CCW #gunholster #concealedcarry

During our conversations with customers, we are often asked about the benefits of one holster over another, is this one more comfortable then that one, does model A conceal better than model B, etc. We are often asked whether or not to choose an open top holster or a holster with a thumb break. This is not always an easy question to answer, as choosing a holster with a thumb break adds some variables to the equation – such as the need for additional training and practice.

One item that comes up on a very regular basis these days is the way to carry a single action auto in a thumb break style holster. Due to the popularity of great CCW guns like the Sig P938, Sig P238, and compact 1911’s, we are seeing an increase in the number of people that want to carry these guns in a thumb break equipped holster.

We point out to people that holster manufacturers design their thumb breaks to be engaged when the gun is in Condition One, or “cocked and locked” as it is often called. This means that the hammer is back, the safety is on, and there is round in the chamber. (The thumb break will go between the slide and cocked hammer of the pistol.) This often surprises people, especially if they are new to firearms, CCW, or to single action auto pistols. They are usually expecting to carry the gun hammer down on an empty chamber (Condition Three), and have the thumb break go over a hammer that is resting against the slide.

Red dot equipped pistols seem to be everywhere these days. Years ago, I only saw them at local USPSA matches, but now, many folks seem to be giving them a go for concealed carry. The concept was very intriguing to me. I read a few of the early articles on the pros and cons of a red dot equipped pistol, and opinions seemed to range from “it’s a terrible idea” to “it’s great”. Since I try to approach my training with an open mind, I decided I would give it a try…ya know, for science.
Planning - A few years ago (5 maybe?), there were only a few options for mounting an optic on a handgun, and only a few optic choices to mount to your pistol. The popular sight choices seem to be the Trijicon RMR, the Leupold DeltaPoint, and the Doctor 3. (I personally have never used a Doctor optic, but I have run guns with the RMR and DeltaPoint on them.) Today, there are many companies that specialize in mounting a red dot to a pistol slide. Some companies will not only mill your slide, they produce their own slides already milled for optics (usually Glock slides designed for use with an RMR).Even mainstream firearms manufacturers are getting into the game with popular models available from the factory already milled and ready to accept a variety of red dot optics. In 2010, FN announced the FN45 Tactical, a few years later S&W announced their M&P Core models, and recently Glock has launched their MOS line.I wrestled with how to begin this experiment.
Read the rest here: http://blog.gunnersalley.com/my-red-dot-sighted-pistol-experiment-part-i/

We all hear horror stories about the legal nightmares that occur after a deadly CCW or self defense incident. Just recently I came across a story about a gentleman who was staying at his parents house once night, and he was forced to shoot an intruder that forcibly entered the home. The intruder survived and sued the gentleman for a ridiculous sum of money. The case was eventually thrown out of court, but not before the man had racked up an $85,000 legal bill to defend himself against the suit. You can read the entire story here: http://sonsoflibertymedia.com/intruder-shot-now-homeowner-struggles-85000-legal-bills-intruder-sues/.

Stories like these abound over the internet, so the question really becomes "are you financially prepared for such an incident"? The answer to that question gives us an opportunity to look further into specialized insurance, commonly called self defense insurance, CCW insurance, or concealed carry insurance. As the CCW movement has spread across the US, a number of insurance providers are now offering specialized plans to cover CCW holders.For starters, it's important to understand that the effectiveness of this type of insurance varies from state to state, so it's important to understand how your own state interprets this type of insurance and coverage that comes along with it. Many states have a "stand your ground" provision and that provision may (or may not) protect you against any potential civil actions. It's certainly suggested that you speak with a versed CCW attorney in your home state to ensure that you are clear on the laws that apply to your individual situation.

Under H.R. 402, the federal criminal code would be amended, allowing a person who has a valid government-issued ID and a concealed carry permit from one state would be allowed to possess, transport, ship and receive firearms in every other state.